Day 1 Home City/Beijing, China
Depart on an overnight flight to Beijing, one of the most vibrant cities in Asia.
Day 2 Beijing
Arrive in Beijing where your day is at leisure. The lovely city has undergone a face-lift to its historic monuments, adding stunning buildings, theaters and stadiums by world-renowned architects to its impressive skyline.
Day 3 Beijing
Spend a day in Beijing with a visit to the Beijing Capital Museum, which highlights ancient China’s achievements against other contemporary cultures around the world. Continue with a pedicab ride through one of the city’s hutongs (an old neighborhood of narrow, twisting lanes and courtyard buildings), followed by a visit to the rarely viewed Tibetan Temple (Yong He Gong), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and among the most beautiful temples in Beijing.
Day 4 Beijing/Lijiang
Fly to Lijiang for an afternoon walking tour of its Old Town, the best preserved ancient town in all of China and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Remarkably, pristine Lijiang retains the architecture and symbolic designs of its 800-plus years of Han and Naxi traditions.
Day 5 Lijiang
Today’s explorations include two picturesque villages: Baisha, once the capital of the Naxi kingdom before the 12th century, and Longquan. After lunch, continue to Heilongtan Park (Black Dragon Pool), home to the Dongha Research Institute Museum. This evening, attend a performance of traditional Chinese music. This colorful and dynamic show depicts the history, culture and life of minorities in Yunnan, such as Naxi, Dai, Lisu, Tibetan and Yi.
Day 6 Lijiang/Ringha
Journey north along the great Yunnan/Tibet Highway to the Khampa village of Ringha, built around a sacred hill. Along the way, enjoy spectacular Himalayan scenery, an ever-changing panorama of snow-capped mountains, deep river gorges and picturesque villages. Stop at the charming village of Shigu (Stone Drum), which sits above the historic "First Bend in the Yangtze River." Also view the stunning Tiger Leaping Gorge, cutting across the mighty Yangzi River.
Day 7 Ringha/Zhongdian/Ringha
Drive to fascinating Zhongdian for a day of sightseeing. Explore the 17th-century Songzangling Monastery, the largest monastery in Yunnan and home to 800 monks, as well as the Living Buddha, the Lama of highest learning. Your full day of sightseeing also includes ample time to stroll the streets of Zhongdian’s Old Town and peruse the vendors of the Central Market.
Day 8 Ringha/Kunming/Hanoi, Vietnam
Arrive in charming Hanoi, the cultural heart of Vietnam that still bears the traces of centuries of changing cultures and dynasties.
Day 9 Hanoi
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has a sophisticated, European flare. Spend the day visiting the essential sights of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh’s house, One-Pillared Pagoda, which was built in 1049 and takes the shape of the symbolic lotus flower, and Quanh Tanh Temple. After lunch, take in the Fine Arts Museum, which is housed in a building that once served as the French Ministry of Information and includes both ancient and modern works of art. Finally, stroll the halls and gardens of the Confucian Temple of Literature.
Day 10 Hanoi/Ha Long Bay
Travel from Hanoi through the fertile countryside to Hon Gai, gateway to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, is dotted with over 3,000 limestone islands carved into fanciful shapes by the action of the water. Tunnels, caves and weirdly shaped outcroppings with imaginative names can be found on many of the small islets that are sprinkled across the Bay. Board a classic vessel for an overnight cruise among hundreds of islets and secluded grottoes.
‘Paradise’ (B.L.D)
Day 11 Ha Long Bay/Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City
Start the day on board practicing tai chi, the ancient Chinese martial art renowned for its numerous health benefits, including stress reduction, increased energy and, some claim, improved mental sharpness. After your workout, transfer to the Hanoi airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon.
Day 12 Ho Chi Minh City
Travel to the tunnel network at Cu Chi, an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located just outside of Ho Chi Minh City and one of the most famous battlegrounds of the Vietnam War. After lunch, return to the city to tour the Presidential Palace with a stop at Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883. If time permits, reflect in the 19th-century Thien Hau Pagoda, the most important pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, and the city’s colorful Chinatown, the largest such Chinese district in all of Vietnam. This evening, join fellow travelers over cocktails and dinner.
Day 13 Ho Chi Minh City/Home City
Board your homebound flight or travel on to another destination in the Orient. China Holidays can help you plan your own extension, "tailor-made" as you require. (B)
Exploring China & Vietnam on a journey through Beijing, and picturesque Lijiang-stroll through local Naxi village and full-day journey to the incredible Tiger Leaping Gorge and Vietnam, Cruise overnight on stunning Ha Long Bay. 
